A unique celebration of the important role animals play in war, and an insightful look at the taking of Vimy Ridge from the perspective of 3 men in a Canadian platoon.

Never before have the stories of animal war heroes been collected in such a special way. This book consists of eight connected fictional stories about a Canadian platoon in WWI. The Storming Normans have help from some very memorable animals: we meet a dog who warns soldiers in the trench of a gas attack, a donkey whose stubbornness saves the day, a cat who saves soldiers from rat bites, and many more. Each story is followed by nonfiction sections that tell the true story of these animals from around the world and of the Canadian soldiers who took Vimy Ridge. Through the friendship that grows between three of these soldiers in particular, we get a close-up look at life in the trenches, the taking of Vimy Ridge, the bonds between soldiers and their animals and what it meant to be Canadian in WWI.

UNIQUE FICTION/NONFICTION BLEND: Fictional stories allow readers to be absorbed by the material without feeling like they’re learning, but the nonfiction element adds interesting information for those who want it.

ANNIVERSARY OF VIMY: This book will be published to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Vimy Ridge in April 2017.

MEDIA SAVVY AUTHOR: Sigmund is a tireless and dynamic promoter through school visits and social media, and he has his own website and author outreach program.

SCHOOL AND LIBRARY MARKET APPEAL: This is a great fit for schools and libraries wanting kids to learn about Vimy Ridge and WWI. There aren’t many books for this age range about WWI, so this will be key for the anniversary.

DIVERSE CAST: One of the main characters is Cree, and nonfiction content will include First Nations soldiers role in the War.

RELUCTANT READERS: There is enough excitement and humour to grip even the most reluctant reader.

COMPELLING STORIES: These animals were incredible, and it’s impossible to be unmoved by their stories.

SIGMUND BROUWER writes for both children and adults. In the last ten years, he has given writing workshops to students in schools from the Arctic Circle to inner city Los Angeles. One of the writers in Orca’s Seven series, he has published well over 100 books for kids, from YA fiction to picture books to nonfiction, with close to 4 million books in print. He recently won the Arthur Ellis award for his book Dead Man’s Switch, which was also a finalist for the Red Maple. Devil’s Pass, from the Seven series, was shortlisted for the John Spray Mystery Award and the Red Maple. Sigmund and his family live half the year in Nashville, Tennessee, and half the year in Red Deer, Alberta. For more information, visit www.rockandroll-literacy.com.

Author Residence: Red Deer, AB and Nashville, TN

Author Hometown: Red Deer, AB

Publicity: F&Gs for sales kits

School & library advertising

Featured title at major conferences: OLA and RFTLOI, ALA and BEA

National feature and review attention

NetGalley promotion

LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaways

Pitch for Canada 150 features

Author Website: sigmundbrouwer.com

Author Social Media: @BrouwerSigmund

PRAISE FOR Sigmund Brouwer:

Thief of Glory

“War. Love at first sight. Rivalry. Human nature. Art. Brouwer (Broken Angel) weaves timeless themes into the story of a 70-year journey toward redemption…Thorough historical research, skillful use of foreshadowing, and keen insight into the human spirit make this one of Brouwer’s best.” —Starred Review, Publishers Weekly

“Brouwer keeps both chapters and book as short as possible; despite this, his characters shine as individuals, and clearly he has done his research on the dangers the music world poses for new talent…A quick read for music lovers. —Kirkus Reviews

”Will hook readers from the first chapter…True to life and easy to grasp…A suspenseful plot, fascinating details, and a likable protagonist make this title a wonderful addition to hi-lo collections." —School Library Journal

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